GBI asked to investigate check on grand juror

GRIFFIN, Ga. - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is examining whether Griffin police illegally conducted a background check on a member of a grand jury that indicted a local officer.

Griffin Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard has written a letter to the GBI requesting its assistance in a probe involving the Griffin Police Department and Police Chief Frank Strickland. His letter indicates that a member of the police department ran a criminal history check on a grand juror. The copy of the letter obtained by WSB-TV (http://bit.ly/14s16EX ) redacted the identity of the department employee who allegedly ran the background check.

A few days later, an attorney representing a Griffin police officer challenged an indictment that accused the officer of making false statements. The defense attorney filed the challenge because at least one convicted felon had served on the grand jury that returned the indictment.

"If true, the conduct may be criminal," Ballard wrote in the letter.

Strickland confirmed through a spokesman that the department did run a criminal history check on a juror.

"Under Georgia law, a police agency can request a criminal history," the police statement said. "One name was entered in the records check and it was revealed this person was a convicted felon and had served on a grand jury. This information was not disseminated."

The indictment against the police officer was dismissed.

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